Second Nature™ News: Fall 2006
Time To Tinker: Daylight saving time is an energy issue
Beginning in 2007, we’ll have a change in our Daylight Saving Time (DST) pattern. Instead of springing the clock ahead one hour in April and back one hour in October, we’ll be turning our clocks ahead in March and back in November. Why the tinkering? There are several reasons, but the primary one is that daylight saving translates to energy saving. Based on studies the U.S. Department of Trasnportation (DOT) conducted in 1974 and 1975, the country saves about one percent of electricity — or 10,000 barrels of oil — each day during DST. In the spring, setting the clocks ahead one hour takes one hour of daylight from the morning and moves it to the evening. When the clock is set back in the fall, it’s returned to Standard Time (ST). “Saving” the daylight for the evening saves the energy that would be used for lighting during these evening hours, as well as for appliances that are run most often when people are at home. People plan more outdoor activities during daylight hours and a large percentage of energy consumption for televisions, VCRs, and stereos takes place after dark. DST saves energy during the year, except the darkest winter months of November, December, January and February, when the switch would be offset by a need for more lighting in the morning because of the later sunrise. |
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Ben Franklin originally championed the DST idea, but we didn’t give it a try until 1918, in order to conserve resources for the war. An unpopular decision, it was repealed in 1919. President Roosevelt implemented a year-round DST (which he called “War Time”) from 1942 to 1945.
In 1966, DST was designated to begin on the last Sunday of April and end on the last Sunday of October. In the 1970s, President Richard Nixon again changed DST — hoping to save energy following the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo. The United States adopted an extended DST that ended in 1975. Eleven years later, President Ronald Reagan designated DST to start on the first Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October. Starting in 2007, DST will begin on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November.
There are reasons in addition to energy savings that people advocate DST. It allows more people to travel home during the daylight hours each day. Since daylight travel is safer than travel in the dark, it prevents traffic accidents and fatalities. According to the DOT, during March and April of 1974-1975, 50 lives were saved, about 2,000 injuries were prevented, and $28 million dollars was saved in traffic accident costs. DST may also reduce the potential for crimes that are more commonly committed in the evening hours, such as muggings. And the switch in DST will be a bonus for Trick or Treaters!
The topic of DST remains controversial. There are opponents (including farmers who cite difficulties for farm animals) who challenge the benefits of DST and the DOT’s findings. Congress has retained the right to change the pattern again, once the Department of Energy reports on the outcome of the 2007 changes. Although it’s unlikely that we’re finished tinkering with our clocks, mark your calendar for 2:00 a.m. on these dates:
Sunday, October 29: Daylight Saving Time ends
Sunday, March 11, 2007: Daylight Saving Time Begins
Sunday, November 4, 2007: Daylight Saving Time Ends
Sunday, March 9, 2008: Daylight Saving Time Begins
Sunday, November 2, 2008: Daylight Saving Time Ends
Alliant Energy’s Renewable Facilities – The Power inHydropower | |
Alliant Energy’s overall strong renewable energy portfolio currently includes 22 hydroelectric facilities, consistently generating 68 megawatts of electricity, enough energy to power about 6,800 homes. In use in the United States since the early 1900s, hydropower is used to generate over 90 percent of all electricity that comes from renewable resources. In fact, hydropower produces 24 percent of the world’s electricity. If you’ve held your hand in a running brook or river, you’ve felt the force of running water. Here’s how a hydropower plant works: Water flows through a dam, which turns the blades of a large turbine, which turns a generator. A transformer takes the current and converts it to a higher-voltage current and sends it to the electrical grid. The used water travels back to the river. |
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Did You Know?The Kilbourne Dam in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. has been providing a clean, steady source of power for over 90 years. | |
Iowa Operation ReLeaf Events Scheduled
Operation ReLeaf is providing landscaping trees to seven Iowa communities this fall. This residential tree-planting program provides more than 3,000 high quality, three- to eight-foot landscaping trees for $25 each to Alliant Energy customers. Fall 2006 Operation ReLeaf events are being held during September and October in Marshalltown, Decorah, Grinnell, Marion, Guthrie Center, Centerville, and Donnellson. “Encouraging residents to plant trees in their yard is an effective way to reduce energy costs and promote a healthy and aesthetically pleasing environment,” says Tom Aller, President, Alliant Energy-Interstate Power and Light Co. “We’re pleased to offer this opportunity to our customers and hope many will participate.” Order forms are available online at www.alliantenergy.com/releaf, or by calling the Iowa DNR at 515-281-6749.
Second Nature proudly welcomes the following new Wisconsin members who enrolled in the program during the fair: Elizabeth and Henry Bothfield of Dodgeville, Jennifer Eigenberger of Sheboygan, Rich Griswold of Genoa City, and Linda Bishop of Mazomanie.
Iowa Renewable Energy Association Energizes Iowa’s Communities
I-RENEW’s 15th annual Energy Expo was held in September in Solon, Iowa, featuring nearly 100 workshops and speakers covering many topics – from renewable energy, green building, energy efficient technology to alternative transportation and solar greenhouses. The event and its many activities lived up to its ‘energizing Iowa’s communities’ theme. Second Nature proudly welcomes the following new members who enrolled in the program during the I-RENEW Energy Expo: Courtney and Charles Goddard of Fairfax; Mercer and Lesley Richardson, Ryan Gleason and Traci Zieser, all of Cedar Rapids; Dean Greve of Delmar; Syro Hurtarte of North Liberty; and Abigail Clavert of Dubuque. |
Photo courtesy of Ric Driver |
Second Nature Customer Spotlight
Residential Customer: Dave Chesky of Reedsburg, Wis.
Dave Chesky joined the Second Nature program in 2001 because he wanted to go a step further in protecting and preserving our environment by supporting the growth of renewable energy in Wisconsin. In addition to participating in Second Nature at the 100 percent level, Dave’s personal and professional life is full of experiences that demonstrate his commitment. He’s been a member of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) for about 10 years, and he volunteers at MREA’s annual energy fair. Dave recently fulfilled one of his dreams by installing a solar power system on his home and is now producing his own power. Dave also actively manifests his commitment to our environment in his professional career as the site manager of the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wis., where he is responsible for identifying and implementing energy-saving measures. Two renewable energy systems that Dave has helped implement on the grounds include a grid-tied photovoltaic system and a solar domestic hot water system. When thinking about our environment for future generations, Dave believes people need to be looking at ways that they can conserve their use of energy and thinking seriously about using renewable energy opportunities. |
Dave Chesky, a Second Nature participant since 2001, supports renewable energy, both professionally and personally. |
Business Customer: Iowa Energy Center
Floyd Barwig, director of the Iowa Energy Center, is excited about participating in Second Nature.
Created by the Iowa legislature in 1990, the Iowa Energy Center is a research, demonstration, and education organization dedicated to improving Iowa’s energy efficiency and use of renewable energy. It conducts in-house energy-related research and education programs, and it sponsors energy projects developed by groups in Iowa universities, colleges, and private nonprofit organizations. The Center established two energy research facilities — the Energy Resource Station and the Biomass Energy Conversion (BECON) facility. It also administers the Alternate Energy Revolving Loan Program, sponsors energy-related conferences, and offers a scholarship to students with energy-related projects at the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa.
The Energy Center enrolled in the Second Nature program in January 2004. “Participating in Second Nature is putting our mission in action,” says Barwig. Other ways in which the Center is acting environmentally responsible is by recycling at the facility and using a hybrid vehicle for energy-related travel. “But the biggest demonstration of our environmental responsibility,” says Barwig, “is a soon-to-be-installed photovoltaic (PV) demonstration.” The PV systems will be installed in the Center’s office in Ames, Iowa, (where it will generate about 5,900 kilowatt-hours per year) and at the BECON facility in Nevada, Iowa, (where it will generate approximately 1,700 kilowatt-hours per year).
Of Local Interest
Four Wisconsin companies are now being featured in commercials which air during Alliant Energy’s Powerhouse TV program, as seen in Wisconsin by 40,000 viewers each week. The program airs Sundays at 5:00 p.m. on WMTV-TV (Channel 15) in Madison, and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. on WDJT-TV (Channel 58) in Milwaukee.
Each company made significant energy efficiency improvements as a result of their participation in Alliant Energy-Wisconsin Power and Light Co.’s Shared Savings program. Shared Savings is an energy efficiency program for commercial, industrial and agricultural customers that identifies ways to save money through the installation of energy-efficient equipment or by implementing energy-saving strategies. WP&L provides up-front capital to assist in implementing the upgrades and customers pay WP&L back through their energy savings.
- Beloit Memorial Hospital: A participant in the Shared Savings Program since 1996, the hospital has saved the amount of energy needed to power 300 average homes, thanks to lighting, HVAC, cogeneration and other energy-efficient improvements.
- American Aluminum Extrusion Co.: Equipment upgrades and lighting projects have saved 5 million kilowatt-hours of energy annually since they began participating in the Shared Savings program in 2002.
- Jellystone Properties: Updated lighting and a heating system for its new indoor water park in 2005 save the company over 3 million kilowatt-hours of energy per year, or the amount needed to power 280 average homes.
- Humane Manufacturing: An improved recycled tire-grinding system and other improvements have saved this company 212,500 kilowatt-hours of energy yearly since joining Shared Savings in 2001.
Welcome to the Second Nature Family
Our Second Nature family continues to grow. Here are some of the businesses in Wisconsin and Iowa that recently joined the program. Watch for more names of new Second Nature businesses throughout our service territory in future issues!
- Blue Harley, Blue Mounds, Wis.
- Bridge Community Bank, Mount Vernon, Iowa
- Bridge Community Bank, Mechanicsville, Iowa
- Bubba’s Sports Bar & Grill, Mechanicsville, Iowa
- Farmers Savings Bank, Mineral Point, Wis.
- Fedson Specialty, Randolph, Wis.
- First Baptist Church, Mason City, Iowa
- The Flame, Berlin, Wis.
- Freddy’s, Hatley, Wis.
- Friendship Café, Friendship, Wis.
- Gilbert’s Restaurant, Lake Geneva, Wis.
- Godfather’s Pizza, Mason City, Iowa
- HTW, Inc., Fond du Lac, Wis.
- Half Moon Inn, Clear Lake, Iowa
- Harvest Market, Barneveld, Wis.
- KOA Kampgrounds of Iowa, West Branch, Iowa
- Lange’s Grocery, Clarence, Iowa
- Leading Edge Development Services, Lake Mills, Iowa
- La Hacienda II, Mason City, Iowa
- Pizza Palace, Mount Vernon, Iowa
- Pro’s Sandwich Shop, Mason City, Iowa
- Remax Realty, Mason City, Iowa
- Retlaw’s at the Lake, Clear Lake, Iowa
- T&D’s Bar & Grill, Mechanicsville, Iowa
- Northwood Motel, Northwood, Iowa
Product Content Label
View the Product Content Label for the Alliant Energy Second Nature Program.
Kids’ Project
Make a Sundial!
Long before mechanical clocks existed, people watched the sun and the shadows it cast to keep track of time. You can make a simple sundial to keep track of time according to the sun, too. Getting Started:What you’ll need:
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Directions:Place the yardstick in the ground in a sunny spot. (If you don’t have a good place to push the yardstick into the ground, you can use a big piece of playdough to hold the stick upright on a concrete surface.) Using your watch to check the time, place a rock at the end of the shadow cast by the stick on the hour, every hour. (or mark the shadow on the concrete, using chalk.) Do this for as many hours as you like: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. would be a good timespan. The next day, look at your sundial and see if you can guess what time it is by the shadow cast on your sundial. You may not be able to tell by the minute, but you can probably get within 15 minutes or so with practice! Note that when it’s noon, the sun will be at its highest point in the sky; this is known as Solar Noon. There are many ways to make sundials. This is one of the simplest. For a more advanced sundial, check out the directions at: www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/clock_diagram.html. | |
True or False?1. Daylight Saving Time (DST) was invented originally for the benefit of farmers. 2. All states are required to comply with DST. 3. DST is implemented primarily in the United States. 4. Tropical countries don’t participate in DST. 5. Farmers were the first to institute Standard Time in the United States. Answers:1. False. DST doesn’t benefit farmers. In fact, some farmers are opposed to DST because of the impact it has on livestock. 2. False. DST isn’t mandatory (though if you’re going to participate, you need to follow the pattern). Today, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and some of Arizona don’t participate. 3. False. About 70 countries around the world participate in a Daylight Saving Time of some sort. In Europe, for example, the “summertime period” begins the last Sunday in March and ends the last Sunday in october. 4. True. The daylight hours are similar in every season in equatorial and tropical countries, so there’s no point in having DST in these areas. 5. False. The railroads instituted Standard Time in the United States and Canada in 1883. Before then, time was a local decision, based on a central clock and the sun. | |
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